1 9 7 9 – 1 9 8 8 (UK)
35 x episodes
Originally hosted by the hairy cornflake himself, radio DJ Dave Lee Travis, Kick Start presented motorcycle Moto-X trials where riders had to run over obstacles such as logs, oil drums, rockeries, water troughs, walls, steep banking, cliff-faces – and often a VW Beetle – against the clock.
Time penalties were incurred for putting a foot on the ground while tackling an obstacle or touching or knocking over specified parts of an obstacle.
The original series was filmed at a specially constructed course at Donington Park in Leicestershire. The location later moved to Easton Neston House near Towcester in Northamptonshire.
The show was a huge success, regularly attracting over 10 million viewers per episode.
A spin-off programme for young motorcyclists – called Junior Kick Start – was broadcast from 1980 to 1992.
Host
Dave Lee Travis
Peter Purves
